Last weekend I took myself along to the celebrations in Chinatown, in London's West End to welcome in the Year of the Goat/Sheep. What to wear? My favourite vintage cheongsam in green, a colour which is said to promote health and harmony in Chinese culture. To keep out the chill factor, I put on my newest purchase, a Michael Kors puffer jacket, in flat-out orange, along with a home-knit scarf (thank you, Mary). More shades of orange with my vintage jewellery and woven nylon bag. And what to wear in my hair? Why, a handful of cocktail sticks, of course. And after the jam-packed festivities, I beat a hasty retreat on a Boris bike. Gung Hay Fat Choy!
... which can only mean Happy Valentine's! Roses on the bag, wine in the glass and Love... on the cover of a magazine. Plus a spectacular view of London! It was red on red on red: a silk dress with a pretty ruffle from Syd's Vintage in Kirkdale, Sydenham, a vintage reversible Chinese jacket, and requisite Dior lipstick. The bag o' roses is Italian whilst the metallic heels are by Jonathan Kesley, seen in both 'From parlous estate to concrete showpiece' and 'Pallant-bound'. My jewellery is mostly Indian: I bought the earrings in Jaipur and the jangly bangles are from Jaadu, in west Dulwich.
Don't you just love a place where pretty much everything is for sale? From a slice of delicious lemon loaf and a glass of hot chocolate (complete with marshmallows) to quirky collectables and pieces of artwork on every wall. Where? The Montage in Forest Hill. You may recall a post last year in June. This time I'm sitting in a little wallpapered hideaway within the maze of rooms that is the magical Montage, wearing a silk embroidered Chinese jacket from nearby shop, in Sydenham's Kirkdale: Syd's Vintage, run by Claire Draper. Alongside the jacket: a pair of plum skinnies, a purple John Smedley knit, funky Ras boots, all topped off with a Nicole Farhi coat over the shoulders.
